Marine who threw himself on exploding grenade to protect comrades awarded George Cross

A Royal Marine who threw himself on to an exploding grenade to save the lives of his comrades is to receive the George Cross.

Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher stepped on a trip-wire which triggered the device during a night raid on a Taliban compound in Afghanistan.

Realising that three other members of his patrol would be killed if he did not act, he launched himself forward to smother the explosion, managing to twist on to his back to let his rucksack take the full force of the blast.

Lance Corporal Matthew Croucher with his shredded rucksack. Having stepped on a trip-wire he threw himself on to the device allowing the rucksack to bear the brunt of the explosion and thereby save the lives of three colleagues

The explosion hurled him across the compound leaving him stunned, bleeding profusely from the nose and almost deaf.

His rucksack was shredded and burning shrapnel from the kit he had been carrying was scattered around the area, with pieces found embedded in his helmet and body armour.

Miraculously the 24-year-old Marine survived and within minutes was on his feet, refusing evacuation and demanding to be allowed to stay with the patrol. He helped set an ambush and shot dead a Taliban insurgent in the ensuing gunfight.

Lance Cpl Croucher recalled later: 'I thought, "I've set this bloody thing off and I'm going to do whatever it takes to protect the others".

'The lads behind me would have caught a lot. I'm very tight with the other three guys. There's been a few times when they've saved my bacon.

'I figured that if I could keep my torso and head intact I'd probably survive any other injuries - although I fully expected to lose a limb.'

The George Cross ranks alongside the Victoria Cross as the highest medal for valour.

The VC is awarded for outstanding bravery 'in the face of the enemy' and is often regarded as more prestigious, although the GC recognises the same level of gallantry in cases where no enemy is present.